A 40-year-old woman was found shot to death in her car in Severn early yesterday, the victim of an apparent robbery, county police reported.

The body of Michelle Anita Erdman of the 1500 block of Matthews Town Road in Hanover was found about 12:30 a.m. by police officers investigating a report of gunshots fired near Pioneer Drive and Arwell Court.

Erdman's gray, four-door Eagle Premier was found in the 1900 block of Arwell Court, damaged from hitting a tree near the intersection. It was not clear whether the car was damaged before the woman was shot.

The woman, found slumped in the driver's seat, died of a gunshot wound, police said.

Police said robbery appeared to be the motive but would not say what if anything might have been stolen.

Investigators searched and canvassed the Pioneer Drive area yesterday.

Anyone with information about the shooting was asked to call the Police Department's homicide tip line, 410-923-4543.